Blog: Werkman

Mono Print Painting Fun

Next Thursday my sweet friend Birgit Koopsen is coming from the Netherlands and I cannot wait to see her. Besides some girlfriend time and sightseeing we are also teaching several workshops together, one is a Mono Print Painting class  at The Ink Pad in

NYC  on March 18th, based on a technique we came up with after we went to see the H.N. Werkman exhibtion when I visited her in the Netherlands.

I wanted to incorporate some of my class samples in an art journal and here are some samples of what I was doing last week.

The cat below is of course inspired by Klee :) and I picked up the Manhattan Border pattern in the print on the lest side with the Manhattan Tile Stamp.

I am kind of liking the idea of incorporating the prints which you do not want to hang on a wall or else into the art journal …you see some really raw experimentation with this here :)

This is the stare in my face I wake up to in the morning …ah the joy of being a cat owner- LOL

This one was of inspired by Matisse – the left is the Mono Print Painting using the Versailles Stencil and on the right you can see the smaller pattern with one of the Versailles Foam Stamps.

It is really addicting to play with those Mono Print Paintings and Birgit and I have heaps of techniques to apply to them – and you get two teachers with different ideas on this :) There are still some seats left- so if you are in the NYC area- join us for this Mono Print Painting Class March 18th or the Artful Transfers Class March 19th …or even both (special price) !

Have a wonderful day

Nat

Comments (4)

  • stephanie

    |

    hope you have some of these techniques in your Artiscape classes too. :)

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      I will teach loads of techniques on all of the classes there :) Looking forward seeing you – woohoo.

      Reply

  • Lisa Flaherty

    |

    Wow, wow, WOW!! This Mono Print Painting class looks Ah-maze-balls!!! If instantaneous travel were a thing, I would sooooo be there!! <3

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Awe- Lisa- it would be so awesome to have you!!! Have an amazing week!

      Reply

Leave a comment

Inspired by H.N. Werkman … or Creative Play

NatKalbach_WerkmanInspired06

Remember the blogpost of my museum visit to the H.N. Werkman Exhibition in Groningen in The Netherlands? When Birgit and I came back from that trip, we were so inspired by Werkman’s artwork, that we went right into her studio and played. Instead of using a printing press we used a mono printing plate. I later continued playing and refining some of the Werkman inspired printing techniques in my own style at home.

This is the first print I made inspired by Werkman.

I call this “Man with hat between houses” :) LOL- titles are also inspired by Werkman- I loved that he just described what you see in his titles and it was kinda funny.

NatKalbach_WerkmanInspired05

The Werkman exhibition inspired me, because his prints talked to me. I love how simple shapes combined tell a story.

As you can tell- the following one was inspired also by The Netherlands trip :)

“Windmill with 5 sheep”

NatKalbach_WerkmanInspired02

Werkman worked with Stamps, Stencils, Paints and texture Tools – I loved the combination of these tools and media as that is what I use all the time too.

“Blue Skyline with watertower”

NatKalbach_WerkmanInspired01

I loved his color choices – He was very bold in his colors which as you know speaks to me too.

This print is inspired by my visit to Toledo, Spain.  “Passing on the Toledo Bridge”

NatKalbach_WerkmanInspired03

Most of all, Werkman was inspiring to me because he dared to try new things. He was a printer by trade…who wanted to be an artist, and he combined his knowledge of printing with experimenting with new and revolutionary techniques for prints. Amazing!

This last print I did was a bit tricky with all the different elements and I am not super happy with the colors- but still fun! “Lady Liberty on 4th July”. I learned a lot from experimenting with this.

NatKalbach_WerkmanInspired04

It is wonderful how a visit to a museum can expose you to artists you might not have known before and then give you a huge push to try something new and fun.

What did you see lately in a museum that inspired you?

Nat

Comments (10)

  • Joi@RR

    |

    Oh wow – I missed this post. How in the world did I miss it. These are wonderful Nat. YEAH – I just knew you would get lots of use out of all those incredible pictures and memories from your trip. My favorite it the first one – Man Between Houses – rather describes our lives – always between something!! I just like the colors and the layout and symbolism of this one. But they are all FABULOUS. Even Lady Liberty is GREAT. Keep this up… these are just so inspiring, creative, color intriguing and delightful. LOVE them all. And I just have to say… blessed today to see you creating!!! Hugs j.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Hi Joi, always love reading your comments and thoughts! you are such a motivation for me! Have a gorgeous week! hugs, nat

      Reply

  • Ami Pilon

    |

    I really like these. It looks like your view is spectacular.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Thank you Ami! my view from the studio is pretty nice – I love seeing Lady Liberty, even it is more the side-back view of her ;)

      Reply

  • cheiron

    |

    Wow Nat these prints are AWESOME!!! I would love to see a class on this type of technique (hint, hint).

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Thank you Cheiron :) Yep – class is coming ;) hint hint- LOL

      Reply

  • Cheryl Zacher

    |

    Very nice. I love the color pop, and the common sights we all see everyday. Also, the judicious use of white space. Looks like you nailed it!
    Joy Joy

    Reply

  • Deborah A. Pierro

    |

    Hi Nat. I really liked all of these prints. I think they turned out really well, especially since they are monoprints and you have to paint pretty fast. I really missed your regular blog posts, like this one!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Thank you Deborah! I will try to do more of blog posts like this one -it is just sometimes life gets in the way and we can’t do it all- but i love doing these kind of things and I am keeping your comment to heart and try more again :) Have a wonderful weekend!, Nat

      Reply

Leave a comment

Europe Workshop Tour- Part 6 – H.N Werkman Exhibition in Groningen, The Netherlands

Natkalbach_werkman_01

From Helsinki Birgit and I flew to Amsterdam and I stayed for a couple days at Birgit’s home, which was awesome and we did so many fun things together- more about it in a different post. One fun thing was that one day we went to the Groninger Museum to see the Werkman Life & Work Exhibition.

Natkalbach_werkman_02

Werkman was a printer and artist and a member of the artist dutch avantgarde group De Ploeg . He lived from 1882 – 1945 .  “He developed a printmaking process he called “hot printing,” a technique incorporating found materials that added repeated design elements directly onto the paper—all without the use of a printing press.” (Alston Purvis, H.N. Werkman)

Natkalbach_werkman_03

Birgit and I were so inspired by the colors and the prints- and ideas- we could hardly contain ourselves and our heads were spinning with ideas and the urge to go home and work on prints ourselves. We were just standing forever in front of each print trying to figure out how he did it. If you have the chance to see some of this work- go and see it – these photos do not do his work justice but I wanted to show them so you get a sense.

Natkalbach_werkman_04

Natkalbach_werkman_05

Natkalbach_werkman_06

Natkalbach_werkman_07

Natkalbach_werkman_08

Natkalbach_werkman_09

Natkalbach_werkman_10

Natkalbach_werkman_11

This was just amazing! I will share some of my H.N. Werkman inspired Mono prints soon. And I think … a class inspired by this is going to be in order too ;)

 

Nat

Comments (6)

  • Joi@RR

    |

    Happy 4th to you too Nat. These pictures – and all the others – are just soooo wonderful. I absolutely love seeing the world thru your eyes. What an amazing prints you have shown is in your pictures… but I just have to say… some of them remind me of your own personal artwork. Can’t wait for you to get home and start painting your versions of some of the pictures you have taken on this trip :) Hugs. j

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Awe thank you Joi! It is amazing how powerful this inspiration of this visit was :) showing soon what I made inspired by Werkman :) Hugs back!!!

      Reply

  • Denise Spillane

    |

    Love this Artist. I always love seeing your posts because I learn a lot. Thanks for introducing us to this artist. So cool. I hope you can add on line class for mono print.

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      thank you Denise -! I will most definitely add a class for mono printing soon – promised :)

      Reply

  • Kathy P

    |

    Wow, what an awesome trip you have had, Nat! Glad you could find some time to play amidst your hectic schedules! Love today’s artwork….can’t wait for the mono class!

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

      |

      Thank you Kathy :) the Class concept is in my head – now to bring it down ;)

      Reply

Leave a comment